บททั้งหมดของ After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

MICHELL POV. I closed the door behind me, exhaling slowly. The tension in the room had been thick—deliciously thick. Ms. Taylor had been squirming. Not visibly, not enough for an untrained eye to catch, but I wasn’t untrained. I had spent years perfecting the art of reading people, unraveling their defenses with nothing but observation. And tonight? She had barely held it together. I hadn’t meant to push her—at least, not at first. But the moment I stepped into that room, the moment I saw her reaction to me, I knew. She was thinking about it. About me. And the more I leaned in, the more I prodded—the clearer it became. She wasn’t just aware of me tonight. She was hyper-aware. I smirked, making my way toward my study. How… interesting. Ms. Audrey Taylor had been nothing but composed, nothing but stubborn since the day she stepped foot in this estate. She resisted help. Resisted attention. But tonight? Tonight, she had crumbled—just a little. Just enough for me to see i

AUDREY POV. I had a plan. A brilliant plan. Avoid Michell Garcia at all costs. For the past two weeks, I had managed to execute it flawlessly. It wasn’t easy—not when I was living in his house, recovering in his medical wing, and had nurses reporting my progress directly to him. But somehow, I had done it. The first day was the hardest. I expected to see him every time the door opened, for him to casually stroll in with that unreadable expression, making my entire existence crumble into a pit of secondhand embarrassment. But fate, for once, had been merciful. Mr. Garcia never showed up. By the second day, I convinced myself that maybe—just maybe—he had forgotten about that humiliating phone call. Or maybe he was too busy. Either way, I wasn’t going to test my luck. I kept to my routine: morning check-ups with the physician , my increasingly challenging exercises, and brief walks around my wing when the nurses allowed it. If I ever had to leave my room, I made sure to d

AUDREY POV I wanted to disappear. Vanish. Cease to exist. Anything but stand here, drowning in the way Michell was looking at me—like he knew exactly what he was doing. My throat was dry. My heart was pounding. And my brain? Useless. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “Look, I already said I take it back.” His lips curved, slow and deliberate. “Too late for that, Miss Taylor.” The way he said my name—it sent something down my spine, something I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. I exhaled sharply, turning away, gripping the bench like it was my only lifeline. I needed to change the subject. Fast. Clearing my throat, I forced a casual tone. “I should probably focus on getting my full strength back first before thinking about anything else.” Michell arched a brow, clearly catching on. “Your full strength?” “Yes,” I said quickly. “You know… recovery. My muscles still need time. The doctor said I shouldn’t overdo it, so I’m taking things one step at a time.” He tilted

AUDREY POV I was overthinking it. I had to be. Maybe I’d misread the entire thing. Maybe I’d let my own feelings twist his actions into something they weren’t. Because what other explanation was there? One minute, Michell was looking at me like I was something he wanted—like he couldn’t help himself. His voice would drop, his touch would linger just a second too long, and I’d feel my skin heat under his attention. And then, just as suddenly, he was gone. Distant. Cold. Professional to the point of indifference. I noticed it immediately. The way he stopped coming around. The way he kept conversations with me strictly polite but brief. He didn’t linger. Didn’t look at me the way he had before. It was so painfully obvious that even Amelia noticed. “Did Audrey do something bad?” I’d had to school my expression when she said it, but inside, I was rattled. Because I was wondering the same damn thing. What changed? I told myself it didn’t matter. That I should just

AUDREY POV “This is ridiculous.” Lisa ignored me, shoving me onto a chair. “Stay still.” I huffed, crossing my arms. “I already agreed to the dress. That should be enough.” Lisa snorted. “Oh, sweetheart, no. We’re not just dressing you up, we’re transforming you.” I rolled my eyes but stayed put as she yanked my hair out of its usual ponytail and ran her fingers through it. “You have such nice hair,” she mused, grabbing a brush. “Why do you always tie it up like you're about to do someone’s taxes?” “Because it's convenient,” I muttered. Lisa tsked. “Convenient is another word for *boring.* Now hush.” She worked fast, her fingers moving with practiced ease as she styled my hair. Meanwhile, I sat there like a hostage, occasionally flinching when she tugged too hard. “This is so unnecessary,” I groaned. Lisa scoffed. “You agreed to my plan, so stop whining.” “Did I agree, though?” I shot her a look. “Yes. And it's too late to back out.” I sighed, letting her do whatev